Hi Jeff,
I'll save Don Brooks an e-mail and provide his own solution to the cleaning of the C-27 fuel tank.
I believe that the tank is not level and by using the sender opening you may not get the true bottom on the tank which is the forward port side of the tank where the fuel outlet valve is located.
This is where you will get whatever water and gunk is in the tank which settles to the bottom.
You might get to this spot using the sender opening by using flexible tubing, but my guess is, (let's hear from the list) there is probably a baffle in the way.
As a precaution, if you have a full tank, you can can disconnect fuel tubing at the engine fuel filter and let the electric pump pump it out. (then bleed the fuel system).
I believe that the tank is not level and by using the sender opening you may not get the true bottom on the tank which is the forward port side of the tank where the fuel outlet valve is located.
This is where you will get whatever water and gunk is in the tank which settles to the bottom.
You might get to this spot using the sender opening by using flexible tubing, but my guess is, (let's hear from the list) there is probably a baffle in the way.
As a precaution, if you have a full tank, you can can disconnect fuel tubing at the engine fuel filter and let the electric pump pump it out. (then bleed the fuel system).
Also if the fuel outlet tube has a screen on the tip and you have a primary filter, the prevailing wisdom is to take it off.
Harvey Rosenberg C-27TR, #6023, 1985 M-18, Kalaurl, Stony Point, NY
Dave,
Round up several clean clear containers, like glass jars. Go to any auto parts store and buy a 24" piece of straight automotive brake line and a small plastic hand pump ( the kind that fits a quart of oil, not the gallon size). Remove the pickup tube from the fuel tank and inspect the screen, if it has one. The brake line is a perfect fit to the little pump. Insert the brake line into the tank and aim for the lowest point. Pump into a clear container. First you should see a milky white liquid that is water. Then you should see black nasty stuff, which is algae. Keep filling jars until you get clean fuel. Here in FL, marine diesel is red and makes it easy to see if the fuel is clean. Install the pickup tube. Be careful here. The tank is aluminum and the fitting is brass. Only snug it or you can strip the threads. Don, #6293, Niceville, FL
------ Original Message ------
Received: Wed, 16 Aug 2006 03:28:39 PM EDT
From: "Jeffery L. Sheler" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: catalina27-talk: fuel tank
------ Original Message ------
Received: Wed, 16 Aug 2006 03:28:39 PM EDT
From: "Jeffery L. Sheler" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: catalina27-talk: fuel tank
Listers. Please excuse me for raising a question that I know has been
discussed previously, but I'm interested in knowing which aperture on the
top of the diesel fuel tank is generally considered the easiest, least
complicated entry point for siphoning off the sludge settled at the bottom.
Someone recently indicated they used the occasion of replacing a fuel gauge
sensor to clean up the tank, and thus used the sensor opening as the entry
point. Is that the preferred route? Thanks for your input.
Jeff Sheler
s/v Windsome
C27TR #6594
Hampton, VA
